HI,
Welcome to healthboards.
Metamucil is made from Psyllium seed husks. It is natrual and is broken down by your intestinal bacteria--- ferments and does produce gas when you first start using it.The gas goes away with continued use. You can buy psyllium in powder, capsules forms and wafer type cookies.

Citrucel Is made with a semi-synthetic material that does not breakdown by your intestinal bacteria. As a result it produces less gas. You can buy it in a powder or tablet form.

Both are water soluble meaning they absorb water and are stool forming agents. They work as well with diarrhea as they do for constipation. They are really a bowel regulator.

To move food through your digestive system ---you have to have fiber in some form. All meat and dairy products have zero fiber. So, you have to get it from some where--- that means fruits and veggies including nuts. Adding a Fiber supplement to your diet is a good healthy thing to do and Metamucil and Citrucel are both safe to take daily. Some people prefer a natrual product rather than a synthetic one. It is a personal choice.
Harry<p>[This message has been edited by Harry (edited 09-05-2001).]

Harry, thank you especially for the very informative info on Metamucil/Citrucell. I have an on-going problem with gas, and so I might try the Citrucell first, since I really don't need any more gas, even for just a while.

My stools are usually on the watery side, but thankfully I am pretty regular 1 or 2 a day unless my IBS is acting up. Rarely get constipated thank goodness.

Was reluctant to try the stool softners, because I though I would become dependent on them, any chance of that, psycologically or physically?